Olde Freehold Day to Make a Return

In 1976, Freehold residents gathered by the thousands at Lake Topanemus for a day of family fun and community. On the 35th anniversary of Olde Freehold Day, the tradition returns. The all-day town event is scheduled to take place at Lake Topanemus Park on Saturday, July 30; the rain date is scheduled for Sunday, July 31.

Olde Freehold Day ran annually from 1976 to 1979 and returned for three years from 2003 to 2005, according to Olde Freehold Day Committee Co-Chair Rich Kane.

Kane, a former recreation commission director, said the original idea for the event came from a scene in the film The Adventures of Tom Sawyer in which small town life was celebrated with a day in the park.

“It was such a joyous scene and reminded me of Freehold Borough. Sure enough, when we held our first Olde Freehold Day, approximately 10,000 people attended," Kane said.

He said his nephew, Councilman Kevin Kane, came up with the idea of bringing back Olde Freehold Day in 2011.

The event will include music from area bands that performed in 1976, including Eddie Testa and Step Aside, as well as Trademarks, which is a group made up of Freehold teens.

“Some of these bands that played in the 1970s were talking about a reunion. We thought, let’s put a marriage together between Olde Freehold Day and the bands,” Kane said. “We’re going from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. [with bands performing].”

In addition to musical entertainment, the event will include a fishing derby led by experienced fisherman Gary Louk for children age 12 years and under. Lake Topanemus will be stocked with bluegills and other fish for the derby.

A triathlon for teams of four will take place with a running leg, a biking leg, and two-person paddleboat leg. Olde Freehold Day will also have a dunk tank featuring local celebrities; a horseshoe tournament; a treasure hunt for various groups; children’s rides; and boating on the lake.

“We’ve put together an energetic committee. Everything we try to do at Olde Freehold Day is going to be fun and family-oriented,” Kane said.

Food will be supplied by local restaurants and a Freehold Borough volunteer fair will be held.

"Olde Freehold Day is also a great opportunity for the variety of groups in Freehold to participate to raise awareness about what they do and to get fair-goers potentially involved," Kane said. “Groups can be sports, hobbies, special interests, arts, music, and charities."

Kane noted that area businesses can sponsor certain booths and activities for Olde Freehold Day. Interested volunteers and sponsors can call Kane at 732-239-5228 or Olde Freehold Day Committee Co-Chair Judi Guy at 732-462-4558. Local eateries interested in selling food please call Sue Summers at 732-886-5375.